On August 1, 2021, the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) became the new regulator for real estate service providers in BC. That means the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) and the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) no longer exist. BCREA recently published a blog post with a video explaining the change in regulators and a series of resources …
As a result of the integration of the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) and Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) into the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) on August 1, the Real Estate Rules, now named the Real Estate Services Rules, have been revised. The changes take effect immediately. With RECBC and …
On July 28, 2021, the BC Government and Interior Health announced new health measures in the central Okanagan aimed at containing a COVID-19 outbreak in the area. REALTORS® are encouraged to review the measures announced and act accordingly, putting the safety of clients and their communities first. Included in these new measures is a mandatory …
Sadly, it seems that in addition to spring, summer, fall and winter, BC now has a fifth season: wildfire season. What’s worse is that this year the wildfire season has gotten off to an early start, making it more important than ever for REALTORS® to help clients manage wildfire risks. While there are some things …
As of July 1, brokerages and REALTORS® should follow WorkSafeBC’s Communicable Diseases Prevention guidelines. June 30, 2021 – With British Columbians set to enter Step 3 of the province’s Restart Plan on July 1, the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC), the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) and the British Columbia Real …
With vaccine numbers rising and infection rates continuing to fall, BC is on track to move to step 2 of BC’s Restart Plan as of June 15 and all of us are eager for further easing of COVID-19 restrictions. However, REALTORS® and consumers will have to be patient a little longer when it comes to …
On June 2, BCREA hosted a free one-hour webinar to help REALTORS® and brokerages understand the new regulatory amendments introduced by the Financial Transactions & Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) on June 1. Thank you to the over 4,400 Realtors who attended! If you attended the full live session, please allow up to two …
By: Adam Feldman, CAMS, CAMS-RM, CSC, Guest Contributor The rise of virtual currency If you’ve followed the news lately, you’ve probably noticed the increased prominence that virtual currencies are gaining on the global financial landscape. A 2019 study estimated that 9% of the global population owns Bitcoin, while British Columbia alone is home to 229 …
In case you haven’t heard, the Financial Transactions & Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) has introduced new and revised regulatory requirements that come into effect on June 1, 2021, that will impact your real estate practice and anti-money laundering obligations. To ensure you’re ready for these changes, BCREA has created a series of short …
By: Adam Feldman, CAMS, CAMS-RM, CSC, Guest Contributor If you remember last week’s post, starting on June 1, 2021, brokerages will need to determine if an individual with whom they are dealing is a politically exposed person (PEP). A PEP is an individual who holds a senior position in a government, military, judiciary or international …
Updated on May 12, 2021, to reflect that the Land Owner Transparency Registry is now publicly searchable. The Land Owner Transparency Registry, or LOTR, is a publicly accessible registry of information about individuals who have an indirect interest in land that is held through corporations, trusts and partnerships. Here are ten things REALTORS® can learn …
By: Adam Feldman, CAMS, CAMS-RM, CSC, Guest Contributor What is a PEP? If you’ve been following the regulatory changes that are coming into effect on June 1, 2021, you might be aware that, under circumstances described in the next section, brokerages will be required to determine if an individual is a PEP. But what is …
FINTRAC: What’s Changed Using LOTR Last updated: June 1, 2021 Overview New and revised regulatory amendments from the Financial Transactions & Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) are now in effect and BCREA has created this resource page to help REALTORS® and brokerages understand their new FINTRAC obligations and how to use BC’s Land Owner Transparency …
Update: This post was updated on May 5, 2021 after a review of suggested protocols. REALTORS® are encouraged to read the updated version below. Selling a tenant-occupied property is always more complicated than selling an owner-occupied property. Selling a tenant-occupied property during a global pandemic adds another layer of complexity. As a REALTOR®, you have …
Update: This post and the Safer Showings documents referenced below were updated on May 5, 2021 to align with Provincial Health Officer orders and directives up to and including April 2021. Real estate professionals must continue to adapt to protect themselves, consumers and communities from COVID-19. While provincial restrictions do not directly impact REALTORS® ability …
By Adam Feldman, CAMS, CAMS-RM, CSC, Guest Contributor What is a beneficial owner, and why do I need to know? A beneficial owner is defined in Canadian federal anti-money laundering regulations as an individual who owns or controls 25% or more of an entity. This could be through direct ownership or ownership of another entity. For …
The Land Owner Transparency Registry (LOTR) becomes publicly searchable on April 30 and guidance from the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) on how to use LOTR in real estate practice is coming soon. BCREA will support brokerages and REALTORS® in adapting their practice in accordance to the RECBC guidance once it’s available. In the …
By Adam Feldman, CAMS, CAMS-RM, CSC, Guest Contributor Brokerages have been required to conduct ongoing monitoring of their business relationships ever since the concept was introduced into regulation in 2014. At that time, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) clarified that a business relationship is established if a brokerage conducts two …
On Friday, April 9th, the Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) and the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate (OSRE) released a press statement encouraging British Columbians to be aware of the potential risks and do their research before making an offer on a home. In the release, RECBC’s Chief Executive Officer Erin Seeley …
With interest rates at record lows and not enough available housing stock to meet demand, buyers are willing to take risks to clinch a deal. Still, as a REALTOR®, they look to you for information on managing those risks. As you work in your client’s best interest, in advising them don’t forget to manage your …
The British Columbia Real Estate Association acknowledges that our head office is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Nations of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam). We also acknowledge the other 195 First Nations in British Columbia, as these are the lands we each call home.
Copyright © 2021 British Columbia Real Estate Association | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use